UnitedHealthcare expands ACA presence to 30 more states
The new coverage areas bring UHC's ACA Marketplace plans to more than 1,250 counties across several states.
Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty Images
UnitedHealthcare will be expanding its individual and Family Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans to 30 additional states, with the increase encompassing new coverage areas in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming, as well as additional counties in 13 other states.
The inclusion of the new coverage areas brings UHC's ACA Marketplace plans to more than 1,250 counties across several states. Individuals and families can enroll in these plans during the open enrollment period through January 15, 2025.
"UnitedHealthcare's plans are designed to help more individuals and families access affordable coverage options that include a wide range of benefits, cost transparency and predictability, and a simple enrollment and member service experience in both English and Spanish," said Marcus Robinson, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Plans.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
UHC said its marketplace plans can help make affordable benefits more accessible to those who may not qualify, or who can't afford other types of coverage, with many qualifying for plans as low as $0 per month based on their income.
In 2024, 90% of UnitedHealth's individual and Family ACA Marketplace plan members received subsidies to help reduce their health insurance premiums, and over half of its marketplace plan members paid $0 in monthly premiums this year, UHC said.
The insurer highlighted several offerings, including plans with $0 medical deductibles and predictable co-pays; access to adult dental and vision coverage with $150 glasses frame allowance; prescriptions as low as $8 at more than 40,000 network pharmacies; $0 unlimited virtual urgent care; up to $150 in rewards for completing health- and account-related tasks; and $0 digital fitness classes plus discounted membership to thousands of in-person gyms.
THE LARGER TREND
UnitedHealth Group, UHC's parent company, posted $5.8 billion in profit for the third quarter, a slight increase over last year's Q3 figure, and raked in $92.4 billion in revenue, a 14% increase over the year prior, according to its latest earnings report.
UnitedHealthcare's third quarter revenues grew 13% to $69.9 billion, reflecting growth in the number of people served. Operating earnings were $4.6 billion, compared to $3.8 billion last year.
Year-to-date, total people served by UnitedHealthcare with medical benefits has increased by 1.1 million, which UHG attributes to growth in the company's commercial and public sector businesses. The number of consumers served with commercial benefits has grown by nearly 700,000 in 2023, while the number of people served by the company's senior and community offerings grew by over 400,000.
Officials said the UnitedHealthcare team "remains actively engaged with individuals impacted by the ongoing state-driven Medicaid eligibility redetermination process." Outreach efforts are helping people connect with resources to maintain affordable coverage, the company said.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.
